NihontoEurope

Ken (nice name on this board), I think it could be a Yoroidoshi. I might be wrong, but it is a thought. /Martin

Christian, It was a suggestion that the tsuba might be "Mino Kinko work". I have no idea, but I will not give up on this one. Especially not now when it looks to be revealed that the theme of the tsuba has a historic event tied to it. All thanks to Morita-san : ) /Martin

Peter, Thanks. My bad there : ) The Devil is in the details. /Martin

Morita, Perhaps the original tsuba was replaced for this one or the other way around... I guess we will never know. Thanks for the interest. Perhaps this will lead me closer to the school now that I know the theme. /Martin

Peter, I'm sorry there is no information at all regarding the school or maker. I have checked thurally before posting This is what it says: 認　定　書 鍔：　唐人物図　赤銅　魚子地 目貫：　羽図　赤銅地 縁頭：　弁慶図　赤銅　魚子地 黒塗鞘　脇指拵 (intentionally left out from previous post). "Black lacquered sheath for koshirae" Leaving out the name of the previous owner and authoriser of the papers. The colour is green and TOKUBETSU KICHYO KODOGU. Issued 1970. If it is vital to have the paper uploaded I can do so, but not until Tuesday when I am back from holiday. /Martin

Morita, The complete set (unaltered) of pictures are housed here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/37236755/Mounts.zip The Menuki as an attachment here (resized). An interesting story! Adding another picture with tsuba and scroll together. /Martin

Morita, An interesting Three Kingdom theory. I will read more about it. Did you get that information from looking at the tsuba or do you have some idea of which school it might be? About the Tokubetsu papers: 縁頭：　弁慶図　赤銅　魚子地 FUCHIKASHIRA: Figure of formidable man Alloy of copper and gold material Chasing with a pattern of thick millet grains pattern 目貫：　羽図　赤銅地 MENUKI:　 Figure of feather Alloy of copper and gold material 鍔：　唐人物図　赤銅　魚子地 TSUBA: Figure of old Chinese Alloy of copper and gold material Chasing with a pattern of thick millet grains pattern Nothing specific about the carving as such. /Martin

Ludolf, If it is any help to you...my fitting passed Tokubetsu Hozon. /Martin

: ) Lovely images and great education for me. Thanks all for a great thread. /Martin

Fred, Nice pic! What would the range of thinkness be? /Martin

Nicely done, Ludolf. /Martin

Ludolf, I think you copied mine and did a photoshop trick out of it. :D Incredible! Do you know anything about your Tsuba? /Martin

David, Thanks for the good advice! /Martin

Rich, Yes, I saw the price as well (before posting). I think it is very interesting to see other specimens and hear your comments. I know nothing about tsubas, schools or smiths. The tsuba is arriving at my home in Decenmber together with the sword it is mounted to. I will update this thread with high quality images then. I can see the difference in the way the MEI is executed and I understand that it is not "the real thing". Also, I will thank you all againg for taking such a great interest in this. /Martin

Rich, What about these items? GIMEI too? http://www.shibuiswords.com/kaneiyeNTK.htm http://www.shibuiswords.com/kaneiye3.htm http://www.yamabushiantiques.com/TSUBA23.htm http://www.shibuiswords.com/Kaneiye%20Tsuba.htm http://www.nihonto.us/KANEIYE%20J.htm http://www.nipponto-ken.fr/Images/Image ... aneiye.png /Martin

Hello, Does anyone of you guys know the school of these very nice fittings? My guess is Onin... The measurements varies a bit depending on where I measure around the rim: Thickness Rim top - 4.25mm Rim bottom - 4.6mm Rim left - 4.5mm Rim Right - 5.1mm Seppadai - 4.6mm Width Right to left - 70mm Top to bottom - 76mm Bottom of nagako-ana 7.3mm I can upload images on demand. The zip-file is 15 meg, but I reckon that bandwidth is no issue 2011 : ) http://dl.dropbox.com/u/37236755/Mounts.zip /Martin

...and if the betting is still on, my money is on Katsumitsu Kashu. /Martin

Richard and Henry, I do not have all the measurements of the tsuba. My interest/request was primarily for age and secondly school if it was possible to determine that. I wonder how many searched on e-Bay for this item... Anyway, I have learned a lot from this and this just tells us that we are in an incredibly exiting and artistic business here were a few grams/ounces of steel is worth...much. Yet, it is a rather shy and withheld art with more than less focus than the painters which we almost can call contemporary when comparing them to the old items we have here. Item bought and I guess yet another load of tsuba books to be bought. Thanks all for the focus on this thread! /Martin

Henry, Found this (a confirmed Kaneie Tsuba) check image. What do you say about that? The rim is related... Thanks for the book info! /Martin

Henry, Ouch! My heart stopped there for a bit. Thanks for that research you have made. I would still say it is NIDAI (99% sure). Do you have anything to back up your theory? Any digital items in the library that can be shared or internet info? I have many swordbooks, but nothing on Tsubas. /Martin

Howdy, I did some research and thanks to you great input in the matter it I have come far. The MEI is not very clear, but with good reference and knowledge it should be solved. The MEI might continue into one or two more Kanji, I am not sure, it makes sense if it does since it ends with "住" which should follow with a name. 金家 山城國伏見住? ? Many thanks! http://dl.dropbox.com/u/37236755/TSUBA3.jpg EDIT - The MEI of the tsuba is: 山城國伏見住 金家 I wasn't really sure about the way it was signed. Done some more research now. It looks real and perhaps it goes back to early Kaneie (Shodai) pre Saga Kaneie. If that is the right way to say it. /Martin

David, Mark and Curran, Thanks! Photos will be uploaded when I recieve them (Tuesday). I will most probably buy it because I like it : ) /Martin

Hi, Here is something to compare with. Not the same smith, but Niji-mei and same name nevertheless. /Martin

Christian and Brian, Thanks for looking and the estimation! Yes, I know it is signed on both sides and hopefully it says something about the maker and school. Unfortunately is is very unclear when zooming in. I will ask the owner to send me an H-res image, then it will be clearer. Please wait a few days for the upload. /Martin

Hello, I am thinking of buying this Tsuba and I really want to know if it will be appropriate to fit it to a sword I own. I want it to match the age and region (if possible) of the sword. So, does anyone of you know anything about this? It looks pretty old when looking at design and oxidation. Also, it has an unusual shape which might help with identification of the actual school. It is not the run of the mill EDO style. My guess is 1350-1450's Anything helps. /Martin